What to Wear?!?!

Whether it's a family of three or an extended family portrait, I'm often asked, "What do I wear?" I usually answer this question, "anything you feel comfortable in because being comfortable and relaxed is important when you step in front of the camera lens."

Though there was a time in history where rigid and obviously posed portraits were the style, that's not so these days. Being comfortable and relaxed during your portrait session gives you candid, happy, and more natural expressions and body language which come across in photographs as graceful, poised, and gives the emotion of love.

But, that doesn't quite answer the question of, "What do I wear?" now does it?  I get that.  I am the matriarch of a family of five. My husband and I have two different distinct styles. Add in our children  who are comprised of two teenagers with their own picky clothing choices and a pre-tween fashionista diva, well, we're a bit of a mess, to be honest. Trying to find clothing options for portraits that are both comfortable and adhere to everyone's style can be tricky. But it doesn't have to be expensive or painstaking.

Autumn is on its way, whether we like it or not.  (I'm still waiting on summer to arrive!) The fall foliage has started to change.  Temperatures are getting cooler.  Even the berries on my tree are beginning to turn deep red and the acorns are falling all over the yard.  Fall is here. So what do we think of when we think of autumn?  Hot cocoa, bond fires, pumpkin flavored everything, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and of course, switching out our wardrobes. We begin to break out our light coats, flannel shirts, boots, sweaters - oh those glorious, ever-so-soft sweaters, and jeans.

In terms of color, fall brings a plethora of deep oranges, burgundies, browns, and creams to mind. But color doesn't have to be dark fall portraits. Mix in some yellows with a scarf or a chevron skirt. Lavender is another color not often associated with fall but mixes beautiful with other tones and colors that fall brings. And although red is not a color everyone can wear (I sure can't!) and often saved for holiday portraits, subtle hints in a scarf, tie, or shoe photographs beautifully!

I've created a board on Pinterest to provide some examples of fall family portrait wardrobe to draw some inspiration. Take a look and I'm sure you'll find something to wear!! So relax. Have fun! And let's get those family portraits taken care of soon!!

Call or email me for you family's fall portraits. The scenery is beautiful and makes the perfect backdrop for your portraits!!

Old Friends

Imagine my excitement when one of my mother's oldest friends sends me an email asking for prices on pictures. I was ecstatic. As I mentioned before, I am always flattered and humbled when family and friends choose me to capture their beauty. It means they trust me. It means they like my work. It means they support me. It almost always brings a tear to my eye to hear them say, "have seen her work and she is Awesome!!" It makes this all worth while. It makes following my passion and dreams easier.

Robert & Becky

Meet Robert and Becky. Becky and my mother went to high school together. Can you believe it? She used to babysit me. And I, in turn, babysat her children. And here I am, all grown up making portraits for her and her husband.

Sunday morning Robert and Becky, my son and I headed out to explore a new location I scouted out. It was perfect!! The sun was bright but there was plenty of shade. It was so nice to walk, click, talk, and catch up.

Ms. Becky

Through our catching up we discovered that we have family in common. Nevermind the fact this woman has caught me picking my nose as a toddler - it doesn't really get much more family than that - but we are now related by marriage, sort of. As my cousins have grown, started relationships, and had children, they've intertwined Becky's family with my own. My cousin is now her great nephew. How cool is that?

Mr. Robert

I was happy to have been able to count on my son for his help as my assistant. It also my makes my heart warm to be able to share my passion with him.  Beside their grandson's second birthday party, they haven't had the chance to meet my son as an almost grown up. I think the last time they may have met him he was still in diapers!! Imagine that.

Thank you Robert and Becky!

All in all, it was a fabulous session in beautiful weather with great conversation with fantastic life-long friends. I do hope I get the chance of photographing their Harleys next time. ;) That. Would be. Amazing!

Jake & Laurissa

My family from Pennsylvania came out for a visit this week. They're staying with my mother but they made sure to contact me for portraits while in town. I, of course, happily obliged. I love it when my family asks me for my photography services. I'm always flattered when someone contacts me for their professional portraits anyway. Family makes it all the sweeter!  It not only makes me feel special that they value my work, but it makes it personal, for both of us. 

Meet Jake and Laurissa, my two little cousins. Laurissa is a whole lot like my own daughter. She loves Taylor Swift, giggles infectiously, and adored being in front of my camera. Nyla and Laurissa are like two peas in a pod. It's almost scary how close their mannerisms are!  Jake. Well, Jake is shy. So shy he doesn't like to talk to anyone minus a few people in his inner circle. But, I love that about him! 

Though both munchkins are my cousins, we've only seen each other on a handful of occasions.  Spending the last 15 years as a military family has been a fantastic experience for myself and kiddos, however, it does have its drawbacks. This happens to be one of them. Because I haven't a permanent fixture in Jake's life, it was hard for me to get him to look at me let alone get a smile from him. But I understood and accepted this from him. He's shy. And we can't all be busy social butterflies now can we?

I may have bribed him with the promise of an ice cream cone. I'll never tell!! (Besides, I can take my cousins out for ice cream, right?!) By the end of the session, I think we had an understanding and he really came out of his shell for me. 

I like for kids to be themselves. It enables me to capture who they are. I almost always declare "Goofy Time" so they can be silly and make faces. 

Jake covering Laurissa's mouth during "goofy time."

True. Mom and Dad probably won't purchase the silly faced images. That's A-Okay. Allowing the kiddos to be themselves means they are comfortable with me pointing my camera at them. It means they can relax and I can make that amazing photo for their family to hang proudly in their home.